Bladen jobless rate takes small tumble

Staff report

August 29, 2013

RALEIGH — Bladen County saw its unemployment rate dip ever so slightly to 12.3 percent for July following an uptick in June to 12.5 percent. That followed another increase to 12.0 percent in May after a decrease in April to 11.6 percent.Just one year ago, the jobless rate was also 13.1 percent in Bladen.Other counties in the area saw mixed results with their unemployment numbers for July. Columbus County reported a slight decrease while and Robeson County slight increases.Columbus County saw its rate dip to 12.0 percent in July after an increase to 12.3 percent in June. That followed an increase to 11.8 percent in May. One year ago Columbus County reported an unemployment rate of 13.6 percent. The rate of change over the past year has been a decrease of 1.6 percent.Robeson County saw its unemployment rate inch upward again in July to 13.3 percent following an increase to 13.0 percent in June. One year ago, Robeson County's unemployment rate was reported to be 14.2 percent. The rate of change over the past year is a decrease of 0.9 percent.All three counties remain above both the state and national unemployment rates for June. The state of North Carolina reported its rate to be 9.1 percent in July. The U.S. unemployment rate decreased slightly to 7.4 percent for July.In July, Bladen County had 1,912 workers who were classified as unemployed and claimed a labor force of 15,588. Columbus County had 2,906 workers classified as unemployed. Robeson County had 7,337 workers classified as unemployed. Robeson County claimed a labor force of 55,206 and Columbus County claimed a labor force of 24,252.In June, Bladen County had 1,932 workers who were classified as unemployed and claimed a labor force of 15,422. Columbus County had 2,993 workers classified as unemployed. Robeson County had 7,275 workers classified as unemployed. Robeson County claimed a labor force of 55,797 and Columbus County claimed a labor force of 24,286.Statewide for the month of July, 62 counties reported an unemployment rate between 5 and 10 percent and 38 counties reported a rate of 10 percent of higher. No counties reported an unemployment of 5 percent or less.Statewide for the month of June, 56 counties reported an unemployment rate between 5 and 10 percent and 44 counties reported a rate of 10 percent of higher. No counties reported an unemployment of 5 percent or less.North Carolina had paid a total of $93 million in unemployment benefits and classified 81,423 individuals as unemployed for the month of July a decrease of 9,555 claimants since June. Regular Initial Claims for Unemployment Insurance totaled 23,807 in July decreasing 4,881 from June. State and federal unemployment programs have paid $2,388,756,078 in total unemployment benefits for the period Aug. 2012 through July 2013. The Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund balance at the end of June was in the red ($2,121,956,514). The State Reserve Fund balance was $57,405,200.